Oddball Films and guest curator Lynn Cursaro
present Kooks, Eccentrics and Other Visionaries, a night that celebrates those special individuals that harbor and foster miraculous obsessions. An
inspiring roundup of dreamers, schemers and true believers, featuring High
Wire (1984), which documents Philippe Petit, the subject of
the Academy Award winning Man on Wire as he prepares for a gasp-worthy performance at NYC's St. John of the Divine Cathedral (with a sound score by Philip Glass). Revisit the reign of Emperor
Norton (1948), self-proclaimed "Emperor of These United States," "Protector of Mexico" and a true San Francisco original. The City by the Bay struts its stuff as a shaper of
nascent nuts in the loopy non-narrative Lopsideland (1969). Knighthood is still in
flower for the Castle Man (1979), who devoted his life to
constructing a ⅕ scale of a Medieval
castle using hand-crafted brick, mortar and stone, in Loveland, Ohio. A
young girl’s devotion to school bus safety spills over into a life-defining
obsession in the kooky educational short Bus Nut (1980). In Jerry’s Restaurant (1976), famed filmmaker Tom Palazzolo portrays a lovable Chicago deli owner’s oddly endearing service-with-a-snarl approach
wins him a devoted clientele. Full of innovation, persistence and originality, this is one inspiring night that's guaranteed to have tons of character.
 |
| Everything's On the Line |
Date: Friday, August 17th, 2012 at
8:00PM.
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp
Street, San Francisco
Admission: $10.00, RSVP Only to:
415-558-8117 or programming@oddballfilm.com
Featuring:
High Wire (Color, 1984)
French high wire
artist Philippe Petit gained fame for his spectacular walk between the Twin
Towers in New York City on August 7, 1974 and was the subject of the
award-winning 2008 film, Man on Wire.
In this 1984 treasure, Petit metaphorically bridges the ancient and
modern as he walks a high wire suspended between the towers at New York City’s
Cathedral of St. John the Divine and a sixteen story high-rise building across
the street. Centering on the meticulous preparation for the performance, the
film sheds light on the WTC crossings, illuminating them as all the more
amazing. With a sound score by the inimitable Phillip Glass. |
| Tongue on Rye |
Jerry’s Restaurant (Color,
1976)
Jerry Myers serves up a little bit of Rickles
alongside the pickles in his Chicago deli. The sandwich with a side of
browbeating is part of what keeps the lunch-hour crowd coming back for more.
Myers’ brand of offbeat affection for his workers and customers is apparent to
all, as is his love for his modest showcase.
 |
| The Real Heart of San Francisco |
Emperor Norton (B+W, 1948)
In this fascinating portrait, we meet the self-proclaimed
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, a celebrated citizen of San Francisco,
California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself “Emperor of these United States” and
“Protector of Mexico.” Although official power and influence extended only so
far as he would be humored by those around him, he was much esteemed in San
Francisco, and currency issued in his name was honored in the establishments he
frequented.
 |
| Keep Those Hands Inside |
Bus Nut (Color, 1980)
Bobbie’s not like the other kids on her morning
school bus. For them it’s just a ride, for her it’s the first step on the
path of a life devoted to transportation safety. It’s okay with her parents and
pleases professional bus driver Mrs. Harrison, too. This study of youthful
obsession is not just a clever guise for a school safety primer, it’s a
reminder that some fixations start very early. Co-starring the color yellow.
 |
| Not Just Another Brick in the Wall |
Castle Man (Color, 1979)
A portrait of modern knighthood! The
construction of a 1/5 scale replica of a Medieval Castle in Loveland, Ohio was
only part of Harry Andrews’s vision. While mixing up mortar and making his own
bricks, he set out to espouse the spirit and values of knighthood. Andrews
built the entire castle himself, using 2,600 sacks of cement, 32,000 quart milk
cartons for forming concrete bricks, 54,000 five-gallon buckets of dirt, and
56,000 pails of stones, most materials locally sourced and hauled to the site
on foot.
 |
| The City That Knows How! |
Lopsideland (Color, 1969)
If any city can be considered a colorful
character, it’s San Francisco! Has the laissez-faire attitude of its
denizens shaped the city, or have all those hills and crannies shaped us? This
delightful short doesn’t even pretend to know the answer!
Plus! For the Early Arrivals!
Evan’s Museum (Color, 1974)
What’s a museum anyway? For young Evan, it’s not
something you can’t make for yourself out of some old bones and hand-typed
labels.
Curator’s Biography
Lynn Cursaro is a local film blogger. Over the
past two decades, she has worked in research and administrative positions a
variety of Bay Area film organizations.